Bergen Man Tried To Cash In $500K Insurance Policy In Another Man's Name: Attorney General

A Bergen County man was charged with insurance fraud, conspiracy, and attempted theft for trying to cash in a $500,000 insurance policy he had fraudulently obtained in another man's name who died in his sleep three years ago.

Donald Blake, 45, of Maywood, deliberately told authorities the dead man was "John White" and he lived with his "son in law" Blake and had died in his sleep visiting relatives in Elizabeth in 2013, said Attorney General Christopher Porrino.

Four years prior, Blake had taken out a $500,000 life insurance policy with Household Life Insurance in his father in law's name, John White, Porrino said. Blake tried to cash in the policy after the man, who was an acquaintance of Blake's, died.

Blake had no father in law named "John White" and the "John White" whose information was listed on the life insurance policy has "no apparent connection" to Blake, authorities said.

“We are alleging that this was an elaborate scheme concocted to steal half a million dollars from an insurance company,” said Attorney General Porrino. “This defendant allegedly took out a sham life insurance policy in the name of a stranger, then spent years just waiting for someone to die so he could cash it in.”

Blake faces a maximum prison term of 20 years and up to a $180,000 in fines if found guilty of the charges.

Residents who are concerned about, or have information regarding, insurance fraud, are asked to call Christopher Lu, the state's acting insurance fraud prosecutor at 1-877-553-7283 or online at NJInsurancefraud.org.

Send local news tips, photos, and press releases to daniel.hubbard@patch.com. Get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our new app. Download here.

Photo: Donald Blake, 45, of Maywood — New Jersey Attorney General's Office